Electrolytic apparatus



Sept. 14,1926. T I 1,

- H. P. EWE LL ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet1 a'nwmm I Ear/ 06 FEWZ Sept. 14 1926.

H. P. EWELL ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2-Ill. L

minim] l ll nuhllll Patented Sept. lei, ii-926.

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1.59am E nnnnnar r. nwnLL, or Tacoma, wnsuznvo ron.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUEi.

Application filed. Gotober 19, 1925. serial, No. 68,369.

This invention relates to, electrolytic apparatuses and relatesparticularly to apparatuses utilizing the electrolyticdecomposition of asalt in the production of an amalgam.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending;application, Serial Number 82 323, filed May 23, 1925.

lit is an object of the invention to. provide electrolytic apparatushaving its elec- T1; trodes arranged within a tortuous channel throughwhich a continuous flow of the electrolyte is maintained; whereby largequantitles of the electrolyte may be continuously treated within a tankof compact form.

Another object is to constantly maintain conditions most favorable tothe formation an amalgam-byflowing mercury through the aforesaid channelin a direction reverse tothe flow of the electrolyte.

.13.; Still another object isto associate with electrolytic tank anauxiliary tank in communication with the electrolytic tank. andcontaining a novel driven. unit functioning to maintain a circulationof. the electrolyte Li-Ti through the two tanks.. and to churn theandthus-forn1 a tortuous or zigzag passage.

electrolyte in its flow through the auxiliary rul to expedite theoriginal. dissolutionof a salt and to re-dissolve any portion of suchsalt that may precipitate out..

24* A further object is to conveniently. mount a multiplicity ofelectrodes upon a frame which adapts them to be removed as a unit froman electrolytic tank and further functions as a conductor for thecurrent energiza ing said electrodes.

the same in front ele- 5 upon the line 83 of Fig. 1.

Fig. is a vertical cross sectional View on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1.

In theseviews thereference character 1 designates a tank; which. in. itspreferred form isrectangularandof sheet. metal construction,. its--bottom 2* being of copper or some other highly conductive; metal. Battleplates 3, rising from the bottom ofsaid tank extend alternately. from.its; opposite walls Resting; freely upon the; plates 3 in a. transverserelation thereto are spaced bars t and secured to said bars, above thelatter, are a plurality of bars 5 parallel to said plates and extendingcentrally above the passage formed by said plates. It is preferred toform. the bars 3 and 4t of copper or some other highly conductive metal.Each bar 5 supports the upper ends of two spaced rows of spaced carbonelectrodes 6, the preferred form of which is cylindrical, saidelectrodes depending into said tank and terminating in a suitable spacedrelation to the bottom 7 designates ring-shaped clamping); bracketswhich are secured to the bars- 5 by rivets 8 (or other suitable means)and which individually receive said electrodes. Each of said brackets isengaged by a bolt 9 serving to normally close its ring firmly upon anelectrode. Upon loosening of. any of said bolts, the rings aresufliciently e21- pansive to free the corresponding electrodes so thatthe latter may readily be adjusted vertically to properly regulate thespacingof their lower ends from the copper bottom 2.

To one end of the tank 1 there is attached anauxiliary tank 10 which hasat one end an inlet 11 to the tank 1 and an outlet 12 from the latter atits other end. Within said auxiliary tank is mounted a driven unitcombin ing the functions of an agitator for expediting dissolution of asodium salt as-for example sodium chloride with, which said tank isreplenished at suitable intervals and of a circulating the electrolyteat a suitable velocity through both tanks. This unit com prises a shaft18 extending lengthwise through the auxiliary tank and ournaled in blindbearings 14 upon the ends of said tank. A plurality of agitator arms 15are radially carried by said shaft and are suitably spaced bothlongitudinally and circumferentially of said shaft and upon an endportion of the shaft is mounted fast an impeller 16 having the nature ofa paddle wheel. Said impeller is opposite to the inlet 11, and when theshaft is, driven, serves to force the electrolyte through said inletfrom the tank 10 to the tank 1, thus establishing the circulationindicated by the fullline arrows: in ig. 1. Said agitator arms, churnthe electrolyte thoroughly in its flow through the tank 10 and expeditedissolution of the replenished salt and rerdissolve any precipitatedportion ofthe salt. It is preferred to give the bottom. 17 or; thetank;10 a. $II1i:Cylindrical form so that the blades 15 may rotate in closeproximity to said bottom and thus act more effectively upon the entirecontents of said tank. It is also preferred to provide a battle plate 17extending some distance from the wall formed with the opening 1]. sothat the impeller may be more effective in pro ducing a flow throughsaid opening.

The drive connection to the shaft 13 is established within the tank 10thus eliminating any necessity for ext-ending said shatt through a walloi said tank, with consequent risk of leakage. As shown, this driveconnection is established by a chain 18 engaging sprocket wheels 19 and20, the former upon the shaft 13 within said tank and the latter upon ashaft 21. projecting above said tank. Power may be applied. to the shaft2 t. through a pulley 22 or other suitable drive element thereon.

23 designates a generator from which an anode cable at leads to the bars5 and. 1S

electrically connected through said bars to the electrodes 6, and 25 isa cathode cable leading from the generator to the copper bottom 2 or thetank 1.. A pipe 26, opening into said tank through its bottom, leadsfrom arotary pump 27 which is continuously driven from the shaft 21 by achain 28. From any suitable source said pump is supplied with mercury,the intake pipe of said pumpbeing indicated. at 29.

8t) designates a discharge pipe "tor liquid sodium amalgam and treemercury. said pipe connecting with the tank 1 through the bottom 2 inprox mity to the opening 11 into said tank and leading to any suitablepoint of discharge. Pre'lerably the pipe 26 discharges into the tank 1above the normal level of the electrolyte to avoid siphoning out oi. themercury and sodium amal n when the pump 27 is idle. and for a sin' tarpurpose, a trap 34 and a vent. are providcd in the pipe 30. (See Fig.41).

In the operation of the described apparatus, suflicient water isinitially supplied to the tanks 1 and lO to insure an adequate immersionof the electrodes 6, and a suilicient amount of sodium chloride (or s01.e other sodium salt) is lied into the tank 10 to form with such water aconcentrated solution. Provision is made in any desired. manner forestablishing a continuous supply of mercury to the pump 29.

A drive is now established in any suit able manner to the generator 23and to the shaft 21. The unit 3, 5, 6 being thus driven. a circulationof the water through the two tanks is set up and the agitator 15 throwsthe salt intosuspension in the flowing water and effects a rapiddissolution oi": the salt. The flow of current between the electrodes 6and the copper bottom of the tank 1 accomplishes a decomposition of theconducting portion of the solutiom and the sodium thusu eleasedimmediately unites with the free mercury to form liquid sodium amalgamwhich travels together with the tree mercury through the tortuouspassage, discharging eventually with the surplus tree mercury throughthe pipe 30. v

The advantage of establishing opposing circulations otthe'electrolyteand the mercury lies in the fact that the electrolyte is continuouslylosing concentration in flowing through the tortuous passage, while themencury increasingly takes the form of sodium amalgam in its flowthrough said passage. By opposing the two circulations, that portion ofthe flowing electrolyte which has the greatest concentration acts uponthat portion of the mercury current which has the max1- mum content ofsodium amalgam, and the concentration of the salt compensates more orless for the contamination of the mercury in maintaining an effectiveelectrolytic action. Similarly the weakened portion of the electrolyticsolution encounters relatively pure mercury and compensation is thusmade for the weakening of the solution in its flow through the tortuouspassage.

The provision for removing all of the elec trodes 6 as aunit,illustrated in dash lines in Fig. 3, facilitates inspection andcleaning of said electrodes.

The described apparatus is productive of sodium amalgam at a high ratein view of the size of the complete apparatus. Thus the apparatus ispeculiarly adapted for use in locations where it is necessary toconserve space, and furthermore the cost is reduced by obtaining amaximum'output from an apparatus of given size.

By use of the described apparatus, an excess of water in the electrolytemay be avoided, and interference with the electrolytic action bycrystals of the salt may be substantially eliminated.

Beneath the tank 10, there may be provided the illustrated heatingchamber 35, having suitable inlet and outlet fittings 35 whereby asuitable heating medium may be flowed through said chamber.

hat I claim is:

1. In an electrolytic apparatusfa tank, means for circulating mercurythrough said tank, means for circulating a metallic salt. in solutionthrough said tank, counter to the flow of the mercury, and means withinsaid tank for electrolytically decomposing said salt.

2. In an electrolytic apparatus, a tank, battle members within saidtank, projecting alternately from opposite walls thereof, and forming atortuous passage, means for circulating mercury through said passage,means for circulating a metallic salt in solution through said passagecounter to the flow of mercury, and means within said tank forelectrolytically decomposing said salt.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus, a tank, baifle members Within saidtank, projecting alternately from opposite Walls thereof, and forming atortuous passage, means for circulating mercury through said passage,means for forming a. metallic salt solution and circulating saidsolution through said passage, and means Within said tank forelectrolytically decomposing said salt.

4. In an electrolytic apparatus, a tank, means for circulating mercuryWithin said tank, and means for forming a metallic salt solution, andmeans for circulating said solution through said tank, counter to theflow of mercury.

5. In an electrolytic apparatus, a tank, means for circulating mercuryWithin said tank, means for forming a metallic salt solution, and forcirculating said solution Within the tank, and means for maintainingautomatically a relatively constant density of said solution.

6. in an electrolytic apparatus, an electrolytic tank, electrodesoperativcly disposed. in said tank, an auxiliary tank having a spacedinlet and an outlet in communication with said electrolytic tank. anagitator in said auxiliary tank, a propeller in said auxiliary tank anda common drive means for said agitator and propeller.

7. ln an electrolytic apparatus, an electrolytic tank, a plurality ofelectrodes operatively disposed in said tank, an auxiliary.

tank having a spaced inlet to and an outlet from the electrolytic tank,shaft mounted in the auxiliary tank, a propeller upon said shaftdisposed oppositely to the said inlet, an agitator upon said shaft, anddrive means for said shaft.

8, All electrolytic apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality ofelectrodes depending into said tank, the bottom of the tank forming aco-acting electrode, and a frame carrying said depending electrodes andforming a conductor leading to said electrodes, said frame v respect tosaid frame to vary their relation 7 to the tank bottom.

10. In an electrolytic apparatus, a tank for receiidng the saltsolution, battle members Within said tank projecting alternately fromopposite Walls thereof and forming tortuous passage, means forcirculating mercury through said passage, and means carried by the tankWithin said passage for electrolytically decomposing said salt.

11. in an electrolytic apparatus, a tank adapted to contain a quantityof mercury in its bottom portion, baffle members Within said tankprojecting alternately from opposite Walls thereof and forming atortuous passage, means for forming a metallic salt solution andcirculating said solution through said passage, and means carried bysaid tank Within said passage for electrolytically decomposing saidsalt.

12. In an electrolytic apparatus, an electrolytic tank, an auxiliarytank for receiving a salt solution, having a spaced inlet and an outletin communication with said electrolytic tank, means Within saidauxiliary tank for effecting the circulation of a salt solution in saidtank through the electrolytic tank by Way of said. inlet and outlet,means Within the electrolytic tank for accomplishing electrolysis ofsaid salt solution, and means for heating said auxiliary tank.

In testimony whereof I sign this application.

HERBERT rfEWnLL.

